Porvoo Favorites

Favorite thing: Errr, not a typical Porvoo windows here, but I liked them. Unusual things always attract me and these look very unusual - narrow, multi cubical glass framed by old brick walls, wooden shutters..... hey, breathe their history....

Favorite thing: This wonderful lighthouse, called Söderskär, in front of Porvoo is getting worse condition because no one seems to be interestd in take care of it. All of the Finnish lighthouses has been automated nowadays and that's way houses like Söderskär are just memories from the time when there lived a lighthouse keeper with his family.

Söderskär lighthouse automated in year 1957, but it switch off 1989, I don't know the reason. Maybe it was not necessary anymore.

After that the small buildnings there has been ownership by Finnish game warden, but the lighthouse has been without administrative commitee.

Fondest memory: That is so sad, that those beautiful and important monuments like lighthouses, are without protection. It wouldn't cost that much to reapir the Söderskär and make it for an tourist palce or just a place where tourists can visit. or maybe somebody can buy it for a summer cottage, it is so near by Porvoo.

Who could protect this lonely lighthouse, which has been an important part of our history?

Favorite thing: Since last five years there has been an active public discussion about new bridge.

Nowadays there goes two birdges over the Porvoo river, the other one is very old and it is still in the orginal place. If you look at the map in porvoo travelogue, you'll see that bridge has been in that place since 18th century. This old bridge goes from semetary to Old Town.

The other bridge is the big one, which is in use all the time. It brings you to the heart of Porvoo, between old and new town, across Mannerheiminkatu. This is the still the main bridge.

But there will be the new one, according the lates news. Covernment of Porvoo voted for new bridge, the votinfg was very strict. The place for the new bridge will be in the end of Aleksanterinkatu, near the boats like Runeberg. Today there goes bridge for pedestrain street. The nwe bridge will decrease the heavy traffic some way, i don't knwo how. But now it is sure that the new one is coming. Discussion, taht lasted over 10 years is over.

Favorite thing: There is some nice things that are good to know when you are going to Porvoo. Porvoo is second oldest city in Finland and it has very colorful and interesting history.
A long time ago...
The Porvoo Castle was built on the hill and the town was named Borgå ("castle river") in Swedish. you can still see some remains of this castel in Linnanmäki.
The Porvoo parish and the church originated in the 13th century. The church was first built of wood, later of stone. It was founded high on the hill to dominate the town.
Six towns were established in Finland during the Middle Ages. Some of them grew to be towns without any official order having been issued. This was the case with Porvoo, which got the town rights after Turku in the 14th century. The story tells that in 1346 Maunu Eerikinpoika (Magnus Eriksson), then the King of Sweden, visited Porvoo and granted the town rights there and then.

Favorite thing: Your travel agent may not tell you about this wonderful road, called King's Road, so I'll do it.

King's Road, a route comprising some of the oldest roads in northern Europe, starting at Bergen by the Atlantic Ocean and Ending at St Petersburg by the Gulf of Finland. Since the 14th century Kings and Merchants, artists and pilgrims, have travelled the King's Road. The Meeting of East and West have created a unique cultural treasury, waiting to be discovered by you.

For Finland's part, the King's Road is the first northern European route to carry the white-brown signs denoting sights of interest. It is the first official tourist trail in Finland. It runs along the main roads of the southern coastline, that is, on both sides of the E18 in the easterly direction form Helsinki, and along roads 51, 52 and the E18 from Helsinki towards the west.

Fondest memory: Today, the King's Road is a network of enticing tourist attractions, and sights of historical interest make up only a small part of the many treasures along the King's Road trail. The meeting of East and West can be easily detected in the everyday life of the region. The King's Road is firmly grounded in the present -it offers visitors access to science, art, technology, international cultural events, busy city life, pedestrian precincts, boutiques and shopping galleries, meeting places and coffee shops, aesthetic experiences, nature adventures and excitement.

There are many sight seeing in Porvoo area while going in King's Road.

Favorite thing: Out of love for shore houses
Trade has been carried on for centuries under the black roofs of the red ochre shore houses. German merchants of the Hanseatic league arrived in their ships to the riverside at the end of medieval times. The ships loaded butter, dried fish, timber, tar and flax, among other things, and unloaded exotic delicacies, such as fruits, wines and spices. The shore houses also served as intermediate depots of coffee and tobacco. Today the shore houses overlooking the river are mainly used as private living quarters and storage spaces.

Fondest memory: Take a walk to the bridge where you can see these depots :) It is worht of walk.

Favorite thing: This is a general tip, not my favorite thing.
Take comfortable shoes to your Porvoo trip as the old town has cobbled stoned streets. High heels might not be the perfect choice for this town visit.

Favorite thing: One of the main Musts with big M - the Cathedral.
I haven't been inside but from the outside it looks very simple, as you can see...